Area Studies

Date: Friday, February 10, 7 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm)
Location: The Japan Foundation, Toronto
Address: 131 Bloor St. W., 2nd Floor
Admission: FREE
RSVP Required: www.jftor.org/whatson/rsvp.php or (416) 966-1600 x104
Language: Japanese with English subtitles/translation

Director Kaori Ishii will be present for a screening of her documentary on hand-stamped kimono dying, Chain of Life. She will talk about her experience making the film and the ancient craft of mokuhanzome.

This movie examines the hands of an artisan who uses cherry blossom wood stamps to transform a solid piece of fabric into a kimono. By following the process from start to finish, we experience the life of an artisan.

Pan-Asia Cultural Showcase: A Night to Celebrate Diasporic Arts in Music, Film, Dance, & Literature
Presented by the Pan-Asia Student Society (PASS) and South Asian Development Council (SADC) at the University of Toronto

The Pan-Asia Cultural Showcase sets to celebrate Asian culture by displaying local talents of Asian arts, ranging from music to film. The event invites students to explore the diversity and richness in Asian art forms, and thereby understanding the region in new light. The event is a fundraiser for the INDePth Conference 2012 organized by PASS and a new academic journal launched by SADC.

Time: Thursday, January 26th, 2012, 7-11pm

Location: Hart House Music Room

Admission Fee:
For students: 3 dollars; 5 dollars for 2;

Thinking of getting a Master's degree? Have an interest in the Asia Pacific? The Master’s in Asia-Pacific Studies (MAPS) programme allows you to add a specialization designation to your degree upon graduation. You are invited to an informal information session with the programme director, administrator, current MAPS students and alumni. You can learn more about programme, how to apply, as well as possible entry awards and scholarships for eligible students that will support language study or field research in East and South East Asia. Learn about unique resources and opportunities available to MAPS students, such as coordinating graduate conference with fellow Munk School Graduate students, or co-editing an exciting e-journal.

An exhibition presented by The Japan Foundation with support from Shiseido (Canada) Inc. and the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre

3.11 Portrait Project
Photographs of Earthquake/Tsunami Survivors
January 7-27, 2012 at The Japan Foundation, Toronto

The 3.11 Portrait Project supports Eastern Japan Earthquake recovery with the volunteer participation of professional photographers, hair and makeup artists, models, and local NPOs. Their objective is to take authentic portraits of earthquake survivors, clearly different from journalistic photographs, which will leave a meaningful record for the next generation and support the emotional recovery of local communities and Japan as a country.
Exhibition hours and opening dates

Recognizing and celebrating outstanding leadership by undergraduate and graduate
students in support of the study of the Asia-Pacific region

General Criteria/Eligibility:

This award recognizes student leadership and academic achievement in pursuing and
promoting extra-curricular research related to the Asia-Pacific region. Examples of
leadership include, but are not limited to, innovation and improvements to student
organizations such as the Asia-Pacific Reader and Pan-Asia Student Society (PASS). Any
instances of demonstrated leadership that have led to the improvement of the student
experience in the study of Asia-Pacific will be considered. Nominees must be current
undergraduate or graduate students in the Faculty of Arts & Science at the University of

Struggling Cities Tokyo-Toronto Talk Series. Complementing the exhibition "Struggling Cities" at The Japan Foundation, Toronto

Talk No. 1 November 9, 2011, 6:30 p.m. André Sorensen, Associate Professor of Urban Geography, University of Toronto.
Tokyo: City Under Pressure.

APR 2011-2012 Call for Editors and Research Staff

The Asia Pacific Reader is currently recruiting new editorial and research staff, for positions in both our publications and research departments. Individuals accepted for positions will also be able to actively blog on the APR website, and graduate student editors will be eligible to apply for the Dr. David Chu Leadership award (the current value is $2000) in March 2012 for the 2011-2012 academic year.

If you are interested in applying for a position as an Editor or Staff member, please review each respective department on our website.

Applications should include:

a) Programme of study and intended year of graduation

b) List any Asia Pacific related scholarships, courses and languages


The Asian Institute is currently expanding its teaching offerings, and is offering two exciting new courses next year:

1) ASI200Y1: Global Asia. This is a new foundation course for the Asia-Pacific Studies major and minor, with a broad “pan-Asia” scope. The course covers East, Southeast and South Asia, and introduces students to the region’s growing role in the contemporary global economy. It also provides an interdisciplinary lens onto key themes including the dynamic movement of people, ideas, and resources across borders in the region, as well as economic, political and cultural connections tying Asia to Canada.